I hate either kind, but I think the mental abuse lasts much longer than physical abuse. Physical abuse you can heal from and learn to trust someone else eventually, but ,mental abuse lasts a lifetime, especially when you constantly get beat down.

i agree neither one is easy to heal from,if you are being abused in either way you need to get out before something worse happens to either of you,unless you like that kinda of life which i don't think any body should go through that kinda of relationship life is to short you are suppose to enjoy life,have fun and be happy and (RESPECT)each other

sounds like a rough marriage and definitly some mental abuse going on there. has the child ever been diagnosed? If the child is an adult now then it is out of your hands The best thing is that you can do for the child as far as bad things being said is to not do what the spouse is doing, eventually the child will figure it out and realize what has been going on for years. give it time and prayer and it will work itself out, don't try to push it or retaliate the worst thing you can do